Death Penalty Sought

Holly Pleads Not Guilty In Jersey Bridgeman Case

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the Bentonville man accused of murdering 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

Holly

At A Glance

Holly Charges

Zachary Holly faces either life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. A kidnapping conviction is punishable with a prison sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life imprisonment. Holly faces from 25 to 40 years, or life imprisonment, if convicted of rape. A rape conviction normally carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life in prison. A conviction of raping a child 13 or younger, however, carries a minimum sentence of 25 years. Capital murder, kidnapping and rape are classified as Class Y felonies. Residential burglary, a Class B felony, is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five years to 20 years.

Source: Staff Report

At A Glance

Aggravating Circumstance

Arkansas requires one or more aggravating circumstance to exist in order for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Aggravating circumstances are:

• The capital murder was committed by a person imprisoned as a result of a felony conviction.

• The capital murder was committed by a person unlawfully at liberty after being sentenced to imprisonment as a result of a felony conviction.

• The person previously committed another felony, an element of which was the use or threat or violence to another person, or the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.

• The person in the commission of the capital murder knowingly created a great risk of death to a person other than the victim or caused the death of more than one person in the same criminal episode.

• The capital murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest or effecting an escape from custody.

• The capital murder was committed for pecuniary gain.

• The capital murder was committed for the purpose of disrupting or hindering the lawful exercise of any government or political function.

• The capital murder was committed in an especially cruel or depraved manner.

• The capital murder was committed by means of destructive device, bomb, explosive or similar device and was concealed and the person knew that his or her act would create a great risk of death to human life.

• The capital murder was committed against a person whom the defendant knew, or reasonably should have known, was especially vulnerable because the person was temporary or permanently disabled and the disability would interfere with the victim’s ability to flee, or the person was 12 years or age or younger.